Apparatus for filling, sewing, and sealing bags



Jul 4, 1939.

R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,154,501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS original Filed April 14, I933 11 sheets sheet 1 Ill/751M242 attorney y4,1939. MCUNDALL m; 2 164,501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittorne g I y 1939- R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,164,501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING mes Original Filed April 14, 1953 12 Sheeis-Sheet 3 attorney vJuly 4, 1939. R. N. CUNDALL n AL 2. 64.501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 /II/III/II/ ttomeg IQSh'eets-Shet 5 R. N. CUNDALL ET AL Original Filed April 14, 1935 Is- "I, u|v||||n|n11nuW// i APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS July 4, 1939.

My 4, 1939- R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,164,501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Ori inal Filed April 14, 19:53 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 llvww'rae 05537 M (an/041. 4, 05:54:50,

ttorneg July 4, 1939. R. N. CUNDALL El AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1 95s 12 Sheets-Sheet '1 attorney y 1939- R. N. CUNDALL ET! AL ,1 01

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 C(ttorneg' July 4, 1939. R. N. CUNDALL El AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 9' 4/. (m/0,414., dam-map, 8y 4 am 1. Canon, flom/wu'rearnx attorney y 1939- R. N. CUNDALL Er AL 2,164,501

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed April 14, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O 8255/9111! Can/0.944, OECEHJED,

07a 1. (Eva/944, aonlwuxepa-elx 56 4M0 LIA/COL 19. 621N044 a torneg July-4, 1939. R. N. CUNDALL El AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS A 12 Sheets-Sheet ll Driginal Filed April 14, 1933 llllllllllllll 08527- Al, (u/V001. 8y 107w 1. (o/v00 40 ENG 414/604 19. (d/V0514.

(Ittorneg Jul 4, 1939.

R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Original Filed Ap il 14, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 9 /0 4/A/COLA/ 6f Cwvonu.

Patented "PATENT o -Pics mans'rus roa mum. snwmo. sun same mos RobertN.

' deceased, late oi Laokawanna,

Cundail, N. I" by LutarL. Cnndall, administratrix, .L'a'ohwsnna, N. Y., and Lincoln Arcundall, Rochester, N. Y., allignors to Banish, Inc., New York. N. "2., a corporation of Delaware .Originsl application April. 14, 1933, Serial No.

386,114. Divided and this application Septemher 9, 1937, Serial No. 183,946

'6 claim... (01. 112-11 The present application is a division of our copending application, SerialNo. 666,114, filed April 14, 1933, now Patent No. 2,097,447, dated November 2, 1937.

5 Our invention relates to apparatus for filling, sewing and sealing open mouth bags. such, for example, as paper bags of relatively large size adapted to contain 109 lbs. or more of cement or other pulverulent or granular material.

In the copending application of Robert N.

Cundall, Serial No. 640,758, filed November 2,

1932, it is pointed out tlmt to accomplish the filling, sewing and sealing of large size open-mouth bags by hand requires excessive and-tedious labor,

and that prior to the invention set forth in the aforesaid copending application, there had been no satisfactory machine for accomplishing this purpose.

In the apparatus set forth in the aforesaid copending application, Serial. No. 640,758, filed November 2, 1932, a series of bags to be filled are progressed through a plurality of stations by means of a conveying device operating intermittently. At various stations along the path of the provision of apparatus for filling, sewing and sealing bags, more especially paper bags adapted 35 to contain large quantities of materials, which shall be simplified in variousrespects with respect to prior machines and which'shall have numerous advantages in construction and operation, as will hereinafter be found to obtain.

Our invention has for. further objects the provision of apparatus in which the progress of the bags may be made and uniformrather than intermittent through at least a con-. siderable portion of the apparatus, to allow for 45 small differences in the time required for the operator to introduce theindividual bags into the machine, the provision ofmeans for gusseting of the bagspriorto' the filling and sewing thereof, thereby'eliminating a separate bag-clos- 5 ing station, and the. provision of means for automatic actuation ofthe various filling, sewing, taping and severing devicesin accordance with the progress oi the baga j Our invention has'liorffurther objects. such 55 additional improvements-and advantages in con- Our present invention has for an object the struction and detail and in operative results as may hereinafter be found to obtain.

Our invention contemplates the provision of filling means adapted to enter the mouth of a bag to deliver material into the bag and adapted to be withdrawn from the filled bag, in association with means for gripping the bag at the upper and outer (and, it may be gusseted) corners of the bag during the filling operation, said gripping or holding means being movable with respect to each other to permit expanding the mouth of the gripped bag to receive the-filling means or spout and to permit drawing the mouth of the vbag closed and taut after it has been filled.

when the bags are filled they are causedto be progressed at a uniform rate past devices adapted to sew and seal the bag mouths and to sever the stitches and tape connecting the several bags, and these devices are caused to operate in accordance with the actual passage or positions of the bags passing along the conveyor.

Our invention furthercontemplates the provision of an intermittently and automatically operated device for transferring the filled bags into the grip of a continuous conveying device which carries the bags past the several devices for sewing the bag mouth, severing the stitches, applying adhesive tape over the sewed bag mouth and severing the tape. I

Our invention also comprises. the provisionof means located in the path of the bags at.-a subsequent point for applying pressure to the sewed, taped and severed bags to insure-adherence of the tape thereto- Our invention iurther contemplates numerous improvements in the construction and operation of theivarious units forming parts of the complete' -mechanism, which improvements will be described more fully hereinbelow.

Certain features of the invention herein disclosed and claimed are likewise disclosed but not claimed in the copending application of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 680,538, filed July 15, 1933,- Apparatus for closing bags, now Patent No. 2,097,448, dated November 2, 1937.

In order that our invention may clearly beset forth and understood, we now describe, with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, aprefen'ed iorm and manner in which our invention may be embodied addfloperatd... In these drawings,

n8. 1 isa side-elevational view of a machine for filling; sewing and sealing open-mouth bags, constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end-elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; ,I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing parts of the apparatus in a different position;

, Fig. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures, taken on the line 6-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a side-elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the opposite side of the same;

Fig. 7A is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line .1A-IA in Fig. '7;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in preceding figures, taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 8, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and omitting certain parts within the serving head;

Fig. 9A is a broken sectional view taken along line 9A9A of Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig, 3, taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10, taken on the line of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line |2-|2 of Fi 4;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 3, taken on the line |3-|3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13, taken on the line |4|4 of Fig. 13; t

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 13 and 14, taken on the line |5--|5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line Iii-l8 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 17 and' 18 are vertical sectional views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16, taken on the lines |'|-|I and |8|8, respectively, of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line iii-l9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19, taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a more or less diagrammatic view, partly in elevation, of portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 5 and '7 and illustrating electrical connections therefor; and

Figs. 22 and 23 are sectional views of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 16 and 18, taken on the lines 22-22 and 23-23, respectively, of Fig. 18.

Similar characters of reference designate the same or similar parts in each of the several views I of the drawings.

The apparatus as a whole of the bag being filled at each operation being firmly held by apparatus associated with the filling station A, and to be described in detail hereinbelow.

The mouth of the filled 'bag is then firmly, gripped by an intermittently operated conveyor B vandthe bag is transferred to a continuously moving conveyor C to be sewed and sealed. As the bag passes along the conveyor C, the mouth of the bag passes in sequence past a sewing machine D, a shear E, a tape-applying device F, a second shear E, a tape-squeezing device G and out of the machine, the progress of the bag or bags being from right to left'through the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Thus, each bag is first filled, then sewed, the stitching connecting the sewed bag to the sewing machine or the following bag is then severed, adhesive tape is applied over the sewed bag mouth, the following tape is then severed, and finally pressure is applied to the bag closure to insure adherence of the tape to the bag mouth.

The arrangement and construction of the machine is such that the bags are filled and transferred to the continuous conveyor C as fast as they are filled or at the will of the operator, and the mechanism for sewing and taping the bag, as

well as the shears for cutting the stitching and Driving mechanism and conveyors A motor (not shown), through a belt 30 and a pulley 3|, drives a high-speed shaft 32 (see Fig. 2). The shaft 32 drives a shaft 33 through a speed reducer 34 while the shaft 33 drives a shaft 35 through a sprocket chain 36. The shaft 35 in turn drives a shaft 31 through a sprocket chain 38, which shaft 31 is connected by bevel gearing 39 to a shaft 40 extending lengthwise of the machine. The shaft 35 also drives a shaft 4| through a sprocket chain 42, which shaft 4| carries a pulley 43 over which passes a belt 44.

The shaft 4| through a sprocket chain 45 drives an overhead shaft 45 which is connected by bevel gearing 41 to a pair of vertical shafts 48 which shafts 43 may carry, as shown, a plurality of flanged pulleys 49 driving endless belts 50.

The other end of the belt 44 passes over a pulley 52 (Fig. 1), and the upper span of the belt 44 is supported upon a plurality of rollers 53, only a few of which have been shown in the drawings. Similarly, the belts 50 travel over the pulleys 49 and a corresponding number of pulleys 54, and the inner spans of the belts 5|! are supported laterally by rollers 55. The belts 50 move in unison with the belt 44 and provide lateral support for the filled bags travelling on the belt 44, but may be omitted if desired.

The apparatus in general is supported upon a frame comprising principally two main angles 56 and vertical supporting members 51, together with suitable lateral supports and other structural members, the details of which do not require description.

The mouths of the bags passing along the conveyor C are gripped between a pair of belts or leather-faced chains 50 extending between pairs of sprockets 6| and 62 (Fig. 1) mounted on vertical shafts 83 (Fig. 2) and 64 (Fig. 3) that are supported upon supports 65 and 66, respectively, which supports are conveniently supported upon the main angles 56 of the supporting frame.

- 2,164,001 The chains 88 are driven from the shafts 48 through sprockets 88 I mounted on the latter, .chains 88 and sprockets 18 keyed to the shafts 83 which also carry the sprockets 8|.

The inner lengths of the chains 88 are pressed together by plates 12 (Fig. '4) mounted upon" angle members '13 which are in turn supported upon members 14 laid on themain frame angles 58. Each of the plates 12 is flexibly biased toward the inner length of the corresponding chain 88 by means of aplurality of compression springs v1|. A suitable number of these biased plates 12 are provided along the length of the belts or chains 88 to provide sufficient pressure upon the belts or chains to firmly hold the mouths of the bags passing through the conveyor 0. While two of these plates 12 are shown in Fig. 4', they have been removed in Figs. 1 and 3 for the sake of clarity. Fig. 12, however, shows the details of the plates 12 and their mountings. I

The intermittent conveyor B (see Fig. 4) comprises a pair of endless belts or leather-faced chains 88 extending between pairs of sprockets 8| and 82 mounted on swinging members 83.

The sprockets M are keyed to vertical shafts 84 mounted somewhat forward of the shafts 84 on a support 85 and are connected together by means of gears 88. The forward ends of the swinging members 88 are pivotally mounted on the shafts 84.

The chains 88 are driven from one of the shafts 84 through a sprocket 81 (Fig. 7), a chain 88, a sprocket 89. i'reely'mounted on one of the shafts 84 and a clutch 98. The sprocket 89 drives the shafts 84 only when the clutch 88 is engaged,

which occurs when a cam 9| on a shaft 92 driven through a one-revolution clutch 93 by the shaft 48 acts through a cam rod 94', to move a lever which is keyed to a shaft 98 carrying a bifurcated clutch lever 81.

The upper ends of the shafts 84 and 84, which carry the sprockets 81 and 89, are journaled in the ends of a supporting member 99 which also serves to carry the shaft 98.

The rear ends of the swinging members 83 are pivotally connected by links I8I (Fig. 4 and 5) .to the opposite ends of a swinging link I82 keyed to a vertical shaft I83 Journaled in a. member I84 attached to one of the main frame angles 56. Also keyed to the shaft I83 isa lever I85 pivotally connected by means of a rod I88 to a cam lever I81 pivotally mounted at'the opposite end to one of a pair of vertical rods I88 and carrying a cam roller I89 adapted to bear against the face of a camI I 8. A spring H2 is provided to hold the cam roller I89 against the cam II8.

The cam H8 is mounted on a vertical shaft I I3 (Fig. '7) which is driven by the shaft 92 through bevel gears H4, a shaft I I5, 9. gear H8, a gear II1 freely mounted on the shaft H3, and a one revolution clutch H8. The number of teeth of the gear H8 is twice that of the gear Ill, and the arrangement is such that during one-half revolution of the shaft 92 the shaft H3 and cam member of theclutch. The driven member with the gear H1 and constitutes the driving is a disc 58I having a notch 582 therein and secured to the shaft II 3. A clutch dog 583 is pivoted to the casing 588 and is urged into clutching engagement with notch 582 by a spring 581 extending between the'dog and asuitable anchor on the casing 588. The dog 583 has a control tail 584 extending outside the casing 588. v The shaft I I5 has a collar 588 secured thereon which carries a suitable control lug 585 for cooperation with the tail 584.

The clutch II8 operates as follows: From the position shown in Fig. 7A rotation of shaft II5 will cause rotation of the casing 588 at an angular velocity twice that of the-shaft H5. The tail 584 is in engagement with lug 585 and the dog 583 is consequently held out of engagement with notch 582. The casing 588 will therefore perform a complete revolution without rotating the shaft II3. When the dog 583 again reaches the notch 582 the lug 588 will be removed by from the position shown in Fig. 7A and consequently the spring, 581 will swing the dog 583 into engagement with notch 582. Thus, in the second revolution of casing 588 the shaft II3 will be rotated. When this second revolutioncompleted, the control mg 585 will have returned to its original position wherein it will serve to disengage the clutch I I8.

The time allowed to elapse while the swinging chains 88 are in their closed position is suflicient to allow the chains 88 to carry a bag forward from the filling station A into the grip of the chains 88.

The purpose of the clutch I I8 is to permit relatively rapid rotation of the cam II8, thereby shortening the time necessary to swing the chains 88, without requiring an impractically steep pitch on' the surface of the cam II8. With the arrangement shown, a moderate pitch of the cam 'II8 effects a rapid swinging movement of the chains 88. v

The cam 9| is so positioned and designed that the belts or chains 88 rotate only when they are in their closed position as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 4 the chains 88 are provided with plates 12 and springs 15 similar to those provided for the chains 88. I

Bag filling mechanism It will be observed from inspection of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 that one of the angles 56 terminates at the standard 68 whereas the other angle 58 extends a considerable distance farther toward the rear, and that the vertical rods I88 are mounted on the longer angle 58 at points lying to the rear of the standard 88.

The bag filling mechanism A is mounted upon the rods I88, the space below and on one side of the same being unobstructed except by the swinging angles 83 and the chains '88 mounted thereon.

Pivotally mounted on the rods I88'and supported by collars I28 keyed-to .the latter are a pair of sleeves I2I (Figs. 5 and 6) having extension arms I22 provided with cutaway portions I23. Pivoted to each of the arms I22 at I24 is a gripping lever I 25, the outer end surface of which I28. of the corresponding arm I22 lying directly above the intersection line of the chains 88 to grip an outer endof the mouth of a bag,

When no bag is inserted in the cutaway portlons or mouths I23 of the arms I22, the gripping P the two solenoids I3I are levers I25 are supported by means of links I21, levers I28 pivoted to the arms I22 at points I29 and pivoted latch members I30 operated by solenoids I3I. 'As shown in Fig. 21, when the solenoids I3I are deenergized, the latch members I30 serve to uphold the levers I28 and the gripping levers I25. To this end, a spring I30 may be provided to urge the latch I30 about its pivot I30 in a counterclockwise direction.

Extending across the mouths I23 along the lines of intersection of the gripping levers I25 and the surfaces I26 are a pair of feelers I35, pivotally mounted on the arms I22 at points I39 and carrying mercury switches I31. As shown in Fig. 21, when no bag is inserted in the gripping mechanism, the feelers I35 occupy a substantially horizontal position across the mouths of the gripping arms I22 and the switches I31 are open. When, however, the end of the mouth of a bag is inserted in the mouth of one of the gripper arms I22 as shown in Fig. 5, the free end of the corresponding feeler I35 is raised, tilting and closing the corresponding switch I31.

As shown in Fig. 21, the two switches I31 and all connected in series to a source I38 of electric current. Consequently when both of the outer ends of a bag mouth have been inserted in the mouths I23 of the arms I22, the solenoids I3I are energized, and the levers I25 fall and grip the ends of the bag mouth against the surfaces I26.

At the same time, the electric current from the source I38 energizes a solenoid I40 also located in series with the switches I31, withdrawing the upper end of a lever I4I out of the path of a dog I42 on the clutch 93 and permitting the dog I42 and the shaft 92 to rotate with the shaft 40 for one revolution. At the end of one revolution of the shafts 92 and 40, the solenoid I40 will have been deenergized, as will be explained hereinbelow, and the upper end of the lever I4I will engage the dog I42, opening the clutch 93 and stopping the shaft 92.

The lever I is mounted upon a short shaft I45 journaled in bearings I46 mounted on a bracket I41 attached to two of the frame uprights 51, and has a stop I48 and a spring I49 which serves to bias it toward the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 21. The solenoid I40 may conveniently be mounted, as shown, on a bracket I50 attached to the bracket I41.

Keyed to the shafts I24 are a pair of levers I55 (shown generally in Fig. and in detail in Fig. 6) having connecting pins I56 extending through slots I51 in a cross bar I58. The shaft 92 is provided with a cam device I60 (Fig. 1) having a cam rod I6I passing through the bar I58 and terminating in an adjustable head I62. Once in every revolution of the shaft 92the head I62 descends, lowering the levers I55 and raising the levers I25 to release the bag. As the head I62 rises again, the levers I25 are retained in their uppermost position by means of the latches I30.

The bag suspended from from a suitable scale device a hopper I (Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6) located between the arms I22. The hopper I10 is connected by a member I1I to sleeves I12 slidably mounted upon the rods I08, the, whole being supported by links I13 from levers I14 keyed to a shaft I journaled in bearings I16 mounted upon the rods I08. A lever I11 also keyed to the shaft I15 has a slot I18 for adjustably and pivotally connecting the lever I11 to a cam rod I19 which is vertically the arms I22 is filled causes the spout I8I to descend (not shown) through reciprocated by a cam I80 on the shaft 92. The hopper I10 is provided with a spout I8I having an elongated V-shaped open end provided with guides I82 and a narrow end member I83 for facilitating introduction of the spout into the mouth of a bag suspended from the arms I22.

At the start of the cycle of operations, that is to say, at the time the empty bag is inserted into the machine, the lower edge of the spout I8I lies a little below the upper edge of the normal position of the bag mouth, and penetrates into the mouth of the bag sufficiently to facilitate further entry at a later time.

In each revolution of the shaft 92, the cam I80 further into the mouth of the bag a sufficient distance to bring the opening at the lower end of the spout I8I completely within the mouth of the bag, where it remains for a sumcient time to permit the desired amount of material to flow into the bag. Further rotation of the shaft 92 then causes the spout I8I to rise above the level of the top of the bag, clearing the bag and permitting the bag to be moved away laterally. In the last portion of the cycle of rotation of the shaft 92, the spout I8I is returned to its original position somewhat below its uppermost position in the cycle.

The scale device may be of any suitable type, and means may readily be provided for automatically tripping the scale device to discharge material through the hopper I10 as soon as the spout I8I has descended a sufficient distance into the mouth of thebag.

It is desirable to have the bag mouth straight and taut at the time it is delivered to the chains 80 of the conveyor C, but provision must be made for opening the mouth of the bag sufliciently to permit insertion of the spout I8I.

For this purpose, I provide a cam I90 (Fig. '1) on the shaft 92, which acts through an arm I9I and a lever I92 to turn a shaft I93, the ends of which are supported in horizontally tapered slots I94 (Fig. 6) in lugs I95 on the arms I22. The inner ends of the lugs I95 are provided with raised portions I96 and are normally opposed by similar raised portions I91 on the inner ends of collars I98 keyed to the shaft I93.

As the shaft 92 rotates, however, the cam I90 causes the collars I98 to turn into the position shown in Fig. 6, bringing the ends ofthe arms I22 together a sufficient distance to permit insertion of the spout I8 I into the mouth of the bag suspended from the arms I22. After the bag has been filled and when the spout I8I rises clear of the bag, the cam I90 turns the collars I98 back into a position where the raised surfaces of the collars I98 oppose those of the lugs I95, thus forcing the arms I22 farther apart and tightening and closing the mouth of the bag suspended therefrom.

The outward position of one of the arms I22 is shown in broken lines in Fig. derstood that the other arm moved by the cam I90.

Operating sequence of bag-filling mechanism and intermittent feeding conveyor 1. Prior to the introduction of a bag into the machine, the chains 80 are stationary and in their open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The chains 60, of course, move continuously, to the fact that the clutch 90 is disengaged, the chains 80 do not move at this time. The gripping levers I25 are raised, the switches I31 being now 6. It will be un- I22 is similarly but due ers I35 and closing the switches I3'I, thus energizing the solenoids I3I and permitting the levers open and the solenoidsI3I and the solenoid I48 being deenergized. The lever I4I obstructs the dog I42 of the clutch 33 and the shaft 82 is therefore stationary. The spout I3I is in its initial position, a little below its uppermost position "in the cycle; as described above, and them I to drop and grip the ends of the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the solenoid I40 is energized, drawing the lever I out oi.- the path of the dog I42 and starting the shaft 82. In thus introducing the bag, the operator can without difficulty open the upper edge of the bag mouth "enough to bring the tip of the spout Ill slightly into the mouth of the bag.

3. As the shaft 92 rotates, the cam I lowers the hopper I10 and the spout I3I descends until the open end of the same lies completly within the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the cam I00 causes the arms I "to move inwardly, opening the bag to accommodate the'spout' III.

4. The spout I8I being fully inserted in the mouth of "the bag, the operator, or suitable automatic mechanism which may be provided for this,

purpose, releases the trip leverof the scalemechanism (not shown) and discharges a predetermined amount of material through the hopper I10 and the spout I8I into the bag.

5. When the bag is full, furthei' rotation of the shaft 92, .through the cams I80 and I00, causes the spout I8I to rise clear of the bag and the l 7 arms I22 to move outward.

6. During the first one-half revolution of the shaft 92, the clutch II8 has been disengaged, the cam IIO being stationary. When the shaft 82 reaches the end of its first one-half revolution," the cam IIO starts to turn, acting through the lever I01 to swing the chains 30 inwardly until they meet and grip the bag mouth, and retaining them in this position for a time.

7. The shaft 82 then acts through the cam I80 and the rod IIiI to raise the levers I23, releasing the bag month which is now gripped between the chains 80. At the same time, the solenoids I3I are deenergized, permitting the latches I30 to retain the arms I25 in their upper positions, and the solenoid I is also deenergized, permitting the lever Hi to return under the influence of the spring I48 to the full line position of Fig. 21, where it awaits the dog I42 of the clutch 33.

8. Further rotation of the shaft 32 acts through the cam 9| and the arm 34 to engage the clutch 90, driving the chains 80 in synchronism with the chains 60 and moving the filled bag into 'the conveyor 0.

9. When the entire month of the bag has entered the grip of the chains 30, the cam 3| disengages the clutch 30. stopping the chains 80, and at about the same timethe cam I I0 causes the chains 80 to return to their outward or separated position, as shown in Fig. 4, while the spout I8I,- which has remained stationary in-its uppermost positionafter being lifted to clear the filled bag, descends a short distance toits initial position.

10. As soon as the chains 80 return to the position of Fig. 4, the dog I42 engages theend of the lever HI and the shaft 92 stops, having completed one revolution. The cam I I0 has also completed one revolution, and will. not start again until the shaft 32 has been restartedfand has completed one-half revolution.

The bag has nowenteredthe conveyor 0 and approaches the sewing machine D.

Sewing machine and shear for stitching As the bag moves forward along the conveyor 0, the mouth of thebag is sewed by a sewing head 200. preferably of thetype set forth and claimed in the patent issued to. Robert N. Cundall, No.

1,963,652, dated June 19, 1934, and pivotally mounted in the manner set forth in the aforesaid copending application of RobertN.'Cundall, Serial No. 640,758, flled'November 2, 1932.

While, in the latter application, the sewing head was mounted upon a carriage which was caused to traverse the mouth of a stationary bag, whereas in the'present instance the sewing head 200 is pivotally mounted upon a stationary bracket 20I (Figs. 1, 3 and 8) and is traversed by the moving bag, the advantages of the pivotal mounting, which allows the throat portion 202 of the sewing head 200 to move with the bag aseach stitch is made and to return to position for 1 another stitch, are. equally desirablein the present instance.

' ,The'sewing head 200,15 provided with a supporting arm 203 (Fig. 8), the upper and outer end of which is fastened to one endof a horizontal cantilever shaft 204 journaled in a sleeve 205 forming a part of the bracket 20I, which is attached to one of the angles 55. The shaft 204 is in axial alignment with the drive shaft 208 of the sewing head'200, which is preferably lo-- cated as close to a central axis of gravity of the sewing head 200 as possible. I

Additional lateral support forthe sewing head 200 is provided in a roller 20! (Figs. 8 and 9), mounted onbracket members 208 and 203 attached to the bracket 2M, and bearing laterally against the lower and outer edgeofthe arm 203. The arm 203 also carries an extension 2i I having a set screw 2I2 adapted to bear against the member 208 when the sewing head 200 is in a vertical position, and an extension 2I3 having a set screw 2 adapted to engage the opposite side of the member 208 to limit the forward travel of the lower partof the sewing head 200. A spring 2 I 5 is provided for biasingthe sewing head .200 toward a vertical position.

The drive shaft 208 of thesewing head 200 carries a spur gear 230 adapted to mesh with a gear 23I mounted on a shaft 232 journaled in a lug 233 forming a part of the support 20 I and carrying a bevel gear 234 which meshes with another bevel gear 235 mounted on a high speed shaft 236 and driven by the shaft 236 through aclutch 231. The shaft 236 is journaled near one end in a bearing 238 forming apart of the bracket 20I and at the other endtin a bearing 233 shown in Fig. 2 and is driven from the motor shaft 32 by means of a sprocket chain 240.

Freely mounted on the end of the shaft 236 and held at a fixed distance from the bracket 20I by a, head 2 on the end of the shaft 236 is-a bellcrank 242 (see Figs. 10and'11) carrying a beveled pin 243, and the outer end of one arm of which is connected by a rod 244 tov a solenoid 243. Also freely mounted upon the shaft 233 is a lever 246 carrying abeveledpin'24'l (see Figs, 3 and 11) adapted to .engagethe pin 243, and the when the solenoid 245 243 and 241,

"is. not energized, the pins the bei1-crank- 242 and thelever 'pins 243 and 241 246 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 11,

When the solenoid 245 is engaged, however, the resultant movement of the crank 242 causes the to engage, forcing the lever 246 toward the gear 235 (to the left as viewed in Fig.

3) and engaging the clutch 231, thus causing the may be provided with means for applying reenforcing cords beneath the stitches on one or both sides of the bag mout Mechanism for thus applying reenforcing cords is fully disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,963,652 and only certain parts thereof are shown herein. A

suitable reenforcing cord 516 is conducted through a tube 511 pivoted at 512 within a suitable opening formed in the head 266. The cord 2 I 6 is then passed through an opening in the face plate 513 in proper position to be applied beneath the loops of the stitches. The tube 511 is rocked about its pivot 512 in timed relation with the operation of the looper mechanism as described in the aforementioned patent. Another cord 514 is conducted through a tube 515 carried by an arm 516 mounted upon a rock shaft 511. The rock shaft 511 is rocked in timed relation with the operation of the needle 562 in order that the cord 514 may be properly positioned beneath the stitches as they are formed by the needle. The mechanism for thus rocking and timing the operation of the tube 515 is fully described in the aforementioned patent. Suitable supply spools 516 and 519 may be mounted in a convenient position upon the machine to supply respectively the cords 516 and 514.

As each bag leaves the sewing machine 266 it is followed by a chain of stitching connecting it to the sewing machine 266, and it may be, to the next following bag. The purpose of the cutter E is to sever this chain of stitching a short distance back of the rear end of the bag mouth.

The cutting mechanism will now be described with reference to Fig. 3 and detail Figures 13, 14 and 15.

Pivotally mounted by means of a vertical pin 266 upon a bracket 261 attached to one of the angles 56 is a member 262 having a sleeve 263 in which is journaled a shaft 264 having a pulley 265 at one end and a circular cutting blade 266 at the other. The shaft 264 is driven from a pulley 261 on the high-speed shaft 236 by means of a belt 268 passing over the pulley 265 and over an idler pulley 266 mounted on one end of a lever 216 pivotally connected at 2111 to the bracket 261. The other end of the lever 216 is biased downward by means of a tension spring 212, one end of which is fastened to a pin 213 set in the bracket 261.

The member 262 is connected by means of a fastener 215 to one end of a tension spring 216, the other end of which is fastened to an upright 211 mounted on the angle 56 opposite to that upon which the bracket 261 is mounted. The spring 216 biases the member toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, in which position it engages a stop 216 on the end of the bracket 261.

Attached to the member 262 is a more or less U-shaped bar 286 having an adjusting sleeve 261 and carrying at its lower end a head 262 which is be engaged by the free end of 263, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 263a secured to one of the angles 56 and. the forward end of which lies across the path of the upper end of the bags passing along the conveyor C,

The construction is such that, as a bag approaches the sewing machine 266, it strikes the feeler rod 263, which moves out of the path of the bag, and, through engagement with the head 262 of the bar 266, also swings the member 262 against the pull of the spring 216 into the broken line position of Fig. 14, in which the cutting blade 266 lies one one side of the path of the mouth of the bag emerging from the sewing machine 266.

As the sewed bag moves forward, the rear end of the bag at length passes the end of the feeler rod 263. The spring 216 then returns the member 262 to the full-line position of Fig. 14, the rotating cutting blade 266 traversing and severing the chain of stitches a short distance behind the rear end of the bag mouth as it returns.

Pivotally mounted at 264 upon a bracket 285 secured to one of the angles 56 is a lever 266. One

so positioned as to a bent feeler rod end of the lever 266 carries a normally open mercury switch 261, while the other end carries an adjustable U-shaped bar 266 and is flexibly biased goigard a stop 266 by means of a tension spring The vertical portion of the bar 266 carries a plate 261 adapted to engage the bar 266, raising the upper end of the lever 266 and tilting and closing the mercury switch 261, when a bag strikes and moves the feeler arm 263. By reference to Fig. 21, it will be seen that the mercury switch 261, the solenoid 245 and a suitable current source such as 136 are merely connected in series.

The mercury switch 261 controls the energization of the solenoid 245, which in turn controls the engagement of the clutch 231, Thus, when a bag strikes the feeler arm 263, which it does as it approaches the sewing machine 266, the solenoid 245 is energized, and the sewing machine 266 operates, stitching the mouth of the bag. The sewing machine 266 continues to operate until the rear end of the bag passes the free end of the feeler bar 263, when the switch 261 opens, the solenoid 245 is deenergized, and the clutch 231 is disengaged, this taking place just at the time the cutting blade 266 severs the chain of stitches following the bag.

The mouth of the bag having been sewed and the chain of stitching severed, the bag moves forward to the tape-applying device F.

Tape-applying mechanism counters a tape-applying mechanism F which comprises principally a pair of driven rollers 366 and 366' located opposite each other at a point just below the top of the bag. Y

The tape applying mechanism F will now be described with reference to Fig. 1 and with particular reference to detail Figures 16 to 26 inclusive. The roller 366 is keyed to a short vertical shaft 361 journaled in a lug 362 having a side extension 363 rigidly fastened by means of suitable fastening devices 365 to the rear face 361 of a supporting bridge 366 and carrying a spur gear 316. The roller 366' is keyed to a vertical shaft 361' journaled in a lug 362' having a side extension 363' provided with slots 364' and slidably held against the rear face 361 of the bridge 366 C, the mouth of the by means of fasteners 305' extending through the slots 304.

As will be observed from inspection of Fig. 18,

, the adjacent surface 301 of the bridge support 303 is provided with a groove 3 adapted to receive and guide the extension 303'. At one outer end of the groove 3" there is provided a lug 3l2 carrying an adjustable member 3l3. A compression spring 3 is located between the outer end of the extension 303' and the member M3 and serves to force the lug 302 toward the lug 302, The rollers 300 and 300'v are, however, prevented from actually meeting under the influence of the spring 314 by means of an adjustable stop. comprising a tapered guide 320, the forward end of which is located immediately behind the rollers 300, 300' and is relatively narrow and deep asshown in Fig. 22, whereas the rear end of the guide 320 is relatively shallow and wide. The guide 320 serves to receive flat tape from a roller 32l and to fold the sides of the tape over the sewed mouth of the bag just prior to the point at which the mouth of the bag traverses the rollers 300, 300.

The forward end of the guide 320 is conveniently supported by means of a threaded supporting member 322 carrying an adjusting nut 323 and passing through a slot 324 in the rear of the bridge support 300. A compression spring 325 is also provided to assist in maintaining the guide 320 in position. The rear end of the guide 320 is suitably supported by means of-a threaded member 326, a nut 321 and a spring 323 from a supporting arm 323 extending laterally from a collar 330 mounted on a vertical supporting rod 33| which carries a roll 332 of tape.

The tape web 333 passes from the roll 332 around a roller 334, and over. a glue-applying roller 335, a portion of which is immersed in a bath 336 of glue or other adhesive material carried in a trough 33'! mounted upon a standard 330, The web 333 then passes under the roller 321, its under surface having been coated with adhesive material transferred to it from the bath 326 by the roller 335 and into the guide 320, As the web 333 passes through the guide 320 the outer sides of the web 333 are folded downwardly over the sewed mouth of the bag.

It will be observed that the 'outer surface of the rollers 300, 300' are knurled or otherwise roughened. The setting of the stop 3|5 is such that the rollers 300 and 300' are separated even at their closest. point of approach to each other by a space greater than the thickness of the folded tape, so that the rotating surfaces of the rollers; 300 and 300', acting upon the tape alone in the absence of a bag, do not cause tapeto be drawn from the roll 332. The distance between the rollers 300 and 300' is such, however, that when the forward end of a bag passes through the guide 320 and enters the space between the rollers 300 and 300', the combined action of the moving bag and the rotating rollers 300, 300' draws tape of! the roll 332 and over the rollers 334, 335 and 32l at the speed at which the bag progreases, thus taping the mouth of the bag.

The construction is such, as will be obvious from the above, that therollers 333 and 300' exert a yielding but firm pressure upon the outer sides of the tape surrounding the mouth of the bag, thus applying the tape to the bag mouth in an efficient manner.

Where a so-called "snake-stitch" or other reinforcing for the stitching of the bag mouth has been provided by the sewing machine 200, as explained in the aforesaid patent to Robert N. Cundall, No. 1,963,652, or otherwise, the roller 300, 300' may, as shown, be provided as shown with grooves 340 so located as to accommodate the stitching and reinforcement of the same which has been applied to the mouth of the bag and to prevent the pressure of the rollers 300, 300' from being harmfully exerted upon the same.

The roller 336 may be provided, as shown, with a scraper 34l adjustably mounted by means of a screw 342 and a'spring 343 above the trough 331 in such manner as to control the amount of glue or other adhesive which adheres to the roll 33; and is transferred in 33 Tapecutting mechanism As a rear end of the mouth of the bag leaves the rollers 300 and 300' and moves forward in the grip of the chains 60, it would continue to be followed indefinitely by tape from the roller 332 unless means were provided for severing this following tape Such means comprises the cutter E' which may be substantially identical with v the cutter E previously described, except that in this instance it performs no other function thanto sever the tape at a point just behind the rear end of the moving bag.

The cutter E" ally mounted by means of a vertical pin 35I on a bracket 352 attached to one of the main angles 56 and carries a rotating shear blade 353 as a pulley 354 which are driven by means 'part'to the tape web comprises a member 350 pivotof a belt 355 from a pulley 331 on the shaft 236.

An idler pulley 356 is provided similarly to the idler pulley The member which is mounted 263 of thecutter E. 350 is normally biased against a stop 35! on the bracket 352 by means of a spring I 358. extending tical rod 353 secured to one of the angles 56.

ing tape. The blade 353 is, however, moved out of the path of an approaching bag by means of a feeler bar 360 similar to the feeler bar 233 ofthe cutter E and mounted on a bracket 36l secured to one of the angles 66. When the mouth of a bag strikes the feeler bar 360 the latter moves out of the path of the bag, forcing the head 362 of a rod 363 attached to the member 350 to one side against the action of the spring 358 and into such position that the blade 353 is withdrawn from the path of the bag.

When the rear end of the bag passes the free end of the feeler bar 360 the spring 363 again returns the member 350toengagement with the stop 351 and causes the rotating cutting blade 353 to traverse and sever the tape following the bag atra short distance behind the rear end of the mouth of the bag. As has been explained hereinabove, the design of the rollers 300, 300' from the member 360 to a ver- Tape-squeezing mechanism 386 located on one of the vertical shafts 63 which serve to drive the chains 68.

The bracket 383 is provided with an extension 381 located between the bearings 382 on the shaft 38I and carrying a vertical shaft 388 upon which are mounted supporting arms 389 carrying sleeves 39l located opposite the bearings 382. Within the sleeves 39l are journaled vertical shafts 392 upon which are mounted grooved rollers 393 located opposite to the rollers 388.,

The bearings 382 and the sleeves 391 are provided with lugs 394 and 395, respectively, through each set of which passes a rod 396 carrying a compression spring 391 located between the lug 395 and the head 398 of the rod 398.

The springs 391 act upon the lugs 395, forcing the rollers 393 firmly against the rollers 388 which oppose them. As the points of engagement of the rollers 388 and the rollers 393 are located directly above the line of travel of the mouth of the bag, the taped portion of the bag mouth lying above the chains 68 traverses the rollers 388 and 393 and is subjected to the considerable pressure exerted by the springs 391 which insures that the tape is firmly applied to the mouth of the bag.

The rollers 393 are driven by means of gears 399 mounted on the shafts 392 and adapted to mesh with gears 488 mounted on the shafts 38L The teeth of the gears 399 and 488 are cut sufficiently deep to maintain these gears in mesh with each other even when the shafts 392 are laterally displaced a short distance by the passage of a bag mouth between the rollers 388 and 393.

Upon the rear shaft 392 there is keyed a sprocket 482 which is in engagement with the sprocket chain 311 which drives the rollers 388,- 388.

The arrangement of the drive is such that the peripheral speed of the rollers 388 and 383 corresponds exactly to the linear travel of the mouth of the bag lying in the grip of the chains 68.

The bag having been fill-ed and sewed, the

stitching and tape following the bag having been severed, and pressure having been applied to the mouth of the bag to insure adherence of the tape thereto, the bag is now ready to be delivered out of the machine and passes forward to that portion of the conveyor C lying forward of the belts 58, where it is removed by an operator.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, while my invention has been described and set forth hereinabove by way of exemplification, with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, my invention is not limited to the specific details of such embodiment or exemplification, but may variously be embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

We claim:

1. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor adapted to grip the mouth of a bag and to progress said bag, a sewing machine lying in the path of the mouth of said bag in said conveyor, a

cutter located in the path of the mouth of said ated by said bag for moving said cutter out of the path of said bag and actuating said sewing machine to sew the mouth of said bag, and means for substantially simultaneously stopping said sewing machine-and causing said cutter to traverse and sever the chain of stitching following said bag after the rear end of the bag has passed said sewing machine.

2. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor adapted to grip the mouth of a bag and to progress said bag, a sewing machine lying in the path of the mouth of said bag in said conveyor, a rotating cutting blade mounted in a pivoted member beyond said sewing machine, means for flexibly biasing said member toward a position in which said cutting blade lies across the path of the mouth of a sewed bag, a second pivoted member lying in the path of the mouth of a bag approaching said sewing machine and adapted to be engaged by said bag to move said cutting blade out veyor for progressing upright filled open-mouth heavy-duty paper bags comprising means to rigidly grip the collapsed sides of the bags above the contents thereof as they are being progressed so that their mouths project above the conveyor,

a device for presenting said bags to said conveyor 1 with their months in definite alignment, a sewing machine mounted above said conveyor comprising stitching mechanism intermittently engaging the bag mouths to stitch the projecting mouths of the bags as they are progressed by said conveyor and to form a chain of stitches joining adjacent bag months, a pivotal mounting for said sewing machine to permit rocking thereof in the direction of travel of the bags in synchronism with the intermittent engagements of the stitching mechanism with the continuously moving bag mouths, mechanism to fold a continuous gummed tape over the mouths of the bags as they are progressed by said conveyor from said sewing machine in position to seal the mouths of the bags and to cover the previously applied stitches, said tape extending between said adjacent bag mouths, and cutting means acuated by each of said bags as they are progressed by said conveyor, said cutting means operating to sever the tape and stitchidly grip the collapsed sides of the bags above the contents thereof as they are being progressed so that their mouths project above the conveyor, a device for presenting said bags to said conveyor with their months in definite alignment, a sewing machine mounted above said conveyor comprising stitching mechanism intermittently engaging the bag mouths to stitch the projecting mouths of the bags as they are progressed by said conveyor and to form a chain of stitches joining adjacent bag mouths, said stitching mecha nism including a needle mounted for movement in the direction of travel of the bags in synchronism with its intermittent engagement with a continuously moving bag mouth, mechanism to fold a continuous gummedtape over the mouths of the bags as they are progressed by said conveyor from said sewing machine in position to seal the mouths of the bags and to cover the previously applied stitches, said tape extending between adjacent bag mouths, and cutting means actuated [ill 

